Document scan drive and return apparatus



July 14, 1970 A. WHARTON 3,520,505

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new ENTRY TAX SUB- TOTAL TOTAL CLEAR NO-SALE PRINT SPECiAL CHARGE PRINT ACCUMULATORS PRINT & RESET ACC VOID July 14, 1970 DOCUMENT SCAN DRIVE AND RETURN APPARATUS I Filed Got. 25, 1967 A. WHARTON 19 Sheets-Sheet 4 l5 KEYBOARD a0 Y MEMORY a. g s ba ORDERBOARD SALE 4 SUPERVISO Y a! /0 A comer; NO SALE INTERFACE CONTROL COPIER v LOGIC PRINTCOUNV COPY JOURNAL 4/ I ,9 DATA PROJECIOR common. LOGIC D'SPLAY DATA PROJECTOR Fl 4 INVENTOR ARMISTEAD WHARTON ATTORNEY July 14, 1970 A. WHARTON 3,520,605

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ATTORNEK United States Patent York Filed Oct. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 677,958 Int. Cl. G03b 15/00 U.S. Cl. 35575 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Document handling apparatus which transports a rigid platen board from a loading position into a recording machine for scanning and then returns the board to its starting position extending from the machine. The platen board is loaded onto a carriage which moves it past a scanning station for a required number of scans in a reciprocating drive motion. After the last scan, a control for the drive returns the carriage to its starting position with the platen board resting exterior to the machine.

This invention relates to automatic electrostatic recording systems and, in particular, to document handling apparatus to facilitate the recording of document information which may be mounted on a platen board during the recording cycle.

Today, as never before, retailing businesses are experiencing a tremendous volume of individual transactions. In department store purchases for example, it is common for customers to charge or pay cash for 3 or 4 items at least once a week. Normally the store clerk prepares a sales slip by manually inscribing the sale information onto a form sheet, a carbon copy of which becomes the customer receipt. In the case of a charge, a credit card is inserted with the sales slip in a manually operated pressure printing device for recording the customer information (name, address and account number). After the sales check is prepared it is then processed, for the most part manually, through various groups of store personnel for inventory and accounts receivable control. As can readily be appreciated a tremendous volume of individual transcriptions exists for even a small business concern.

With the advent of electronic data processing equipment, it is desirable to utilize one or more computer memories as multiple sales accounting journals and ledgers. Various attempts have been made to combine sales and accounting information at the point of sale into some form of machine readable input data but none have been entirely satisfactory.

One technique at capturing merchandise data at the point of sale has been by print punch price tickets. As a unit of merchandise is sold, a ticket is stubbed and placed onto a spindle holder. At the end of the day, the tickets are taken to a central location where they are converted to magnetic tape for processing into a computer. While this system has certain merit, it has been found that ticket collection is not complete resulting in inaccurate data acquisition.

Still another technique has been to use paper tape punch devices attached to a cash register. Each punched paper tape shows beginning and ending dollar accumulation for all sales data registered for the day. This must then be converted into machine readable language. Normally, the paper tape does not include accounts receivable information which must now be completed manually.

Associated with the above problem is the need for a recording machine that will enable a composite image to be formed of document information assembled on a platen board. A problem in the use of such a machine is the relative ease by which a rigid board can be transported into and out of the machine without detracting from the quality of the recording.

In accordance with the present invention, document handling apparatus is provided capable of transporting a platen board from a loading position into a recording machine for scanning and then return the board to its starting position, extending from the machine after the scanning cycle.

It is therefore an object of this invention to improve recording apparatus.

It is also an object of this invention to facilitate the handling of document information in recording systems.

It is another object of this invention to enable compatible operation of rigid boards carrying document information with electrostatic recording apparatus.

Yet it is still another object of this invention to ensure accurate handling of document information to be transported from a load position past a scanning station and then returned to its starting position for unloading after the scan cycle is completed.

For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is had to the following detailed description of the invention to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a left-hand perspective view of the recording apparatus adapted for use with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of keyboard section of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the keyboard coding matrix circuit for converting keyed information into binary coded digital information;

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side section view of the recording apparatus illustrating details of components in the copying section;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the recording apparatus with housing broken away;

FIG. 7 illustrates a typical cut sheet copy and journal tape produced from the recording apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the order board;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the order board;

FIGS. 9AA-9FF are sections of FIG. 9 taken along lines indicated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the order board illustrating details of the ticket ejection assembly;

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are top, side, and end views, respectively, of the order board carriage assembly, parts of which are shown in section;

FIG. 14 illustrates the scan drive mechanism for the carriage assembly;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the scan drive mechanlsm;

FIGS. 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d illustrate similar views of portions of the scan drive mechanism in scan operation sequence;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are side and end views, respectively, of the journal tape transport assembly;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view of the clutching arrangement for the journal tape assembly taken along line 2121 of FIG. 17;

FIGS. 20 and 20a are sectional and end views, respectively, of the pressure fixing mechanism with FIG. 20 being a section taken along line 2020 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 illustrates a view of the recording apparatus showing in particular the data projector assembly;

FIG. 22 illustrates schematically the copier control logic circuit;

FIG. 23 illustrates schematically the electrical circuit 

